Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of head injury, to include headaches (claimed as TBI), are granted service connection. A new VA examination is needed for the claim of residuals of head injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for PTSD and failure of duty to assist, requiring a new examination to address TBI and occupational impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety and depression), TBI, and headaches. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.,There is no medical evidence showing any in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of bilateral frostbite and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since the May 2010 rating decision. The Veteran is also entitled to a VA examination to determine if his upper extremities disabilities are related to service.

The Board dismissed all issues of service connection and evaluation for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 6, 2010, for the grant of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was denied as there is no evidence showing he was unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions before that date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Morton's neuroma of the right foot has been denied as the current rating adequately reflects his disability.,A compensable rating is granted for the painful scar on the right hand, with no greater than 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied as he has been assigned compensable ratings for his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's TDIU and increased rating claims for posttraumatic headaches are remanded due to inadequate examination in the prior appeal, which did not distinguish between service-connected posttraumatic headaches and other potential causes of headaches.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for service-connected TBI was denied as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for TBI, PTSD, and tension headaches have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's TBI does not result in any compensable impairment, and therefore, the claim for a compensable initial rating is denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of TBI, posttraumatic headaches as secondary to TBI, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for back condition and hypertension are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI and diplopia with decompensated esotropia and esophoria are being remanded due to the failure of VA to substantially comply with previous remand directives regarding the association of Goldmann visual field charts. The Board will need to obtain clarification from a qualified examiner on whether the Veteran has diplopia, visual field defects, or other eye symptoms prior to June 26, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to insufficient discussion of certain medical records in a previous opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examination.

The Board has denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and TBI have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Meniere's syndrome and TBI due to insufficient development of records related to an in-service assault. The Veteran was not provided with all requested Inspector General investigation records, which are necessary to determine if his disabilities were caused by such assaults.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective December 9, 2017, the date she stopped working full-time as a police officer due to her service-connected disabilities. The effective date for TDIU is being considered earlier based on her claim of unemployability.

The Board has ordered the remand of several issues due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings remain under review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of initial increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a back disorder, a bilateral foot disorder (other than hallux valgus), and a TBI.